Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Grammie's Red Velvet Cake

Dear Mom,
Our birthday came and went with a flurry of activity! I was spoiled by friends and neighbors and family!
I baked my annual "Grammie's Red Velvet Cake" which Grammie called her "Waldorf Cake" (lovingly spelled on her recipe card to me "Waldrof Cake (RED Cake)").
This is my last picture of Grammie and Grampie, taken on Mother's Day in 2007. Grammie died unexpectedly in September, 2007. Everything Grammie baked was heaven. I am lucky to have gotten so many of her recipes.

So, without further ado, Grammie's Red Velvet Cake:

Waldrof Cake (RED Cake)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup crisco (not oil)

2 eggs

2 oz. red food coloring

2 Tbsp. cocoa

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup buttermilk

1 Tbsp. vinegar

1 tsp. soda

2 1/2 cups sifted flour

1/2 tsp. salt

Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs and beat. Combine food coloring and cocoa and add to above mixture. Alternate milk and flour to above mixture. Mix well. Last add soda to vinegar. Add to cake mixture by just stirring in (do not beat).

Grammie didn't include a frosting recipe so I just whip up a cream cheese frosting.

This cake is absolutely divine when shared with friends and family; when you can eat your birthday cake amidst much love and laughter. That is how Grammie did it her whole life. I hope to follow in those footsteps.

Thanks for sharing and I love the misspelling story. We have a family recipe called "Dutch Cake" which my sister in law gave me and she spelled it "Duth Cake"...we now refer to it as Duth Cake in our family.

Our oldest daughter always wanted Waldorf Cake for her birthday, too--Red Velvet Cake. Like you, I made cream cheese frosting for ours. I think the original recipe had a cooked frosting that used a cup of butter. (!)

It was a signature dessert of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in NYC in the 20's. Wonder how long Grammie had the recipe.

You stirred up some good memories for me. I haven't made on in years. If I do, I'll use Grammie's recipe.